Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, FL
Located at
At “The Official Attraction of NASCAR”, visitors can participate in a variety of fun activities. Many people opt to take a tour first. You can choose from a 30-minute open-air tram tour of the Speedway, which provides a quick look at the facilities and is included with general admission to the attraction, or you can sign up for the VIP Hot Pass Tour, which takes about 2.5 hours and includes a three-hour personal track tour via a deluxe motorcoach, lunch at the Budweiser Bistro, ride vouchers for other onsite attractions, and discounts at the Pit Shop, the attraction’s gift and merchandise shop. VIP Hot Pass Tour tickets must be purchased in advance.
Visitors of all ages love Acceleration Alley, a simulator experience that allows you to drive NASCAR vehicles at speeds up to 200 mph. Guests “race” against each other and can choose the stock car belonging to their favorite driver like Jeff Gordon or Tony Stewart. Similarly, Daytona Dream Laps is another simulator ride. This one seats 32 guests at a time and is based on the track’s signature Daytona 500 race.
Other attractions include the Chevy 16-second Pit Stop Challenge, a chance for visitors to grab an air gun and see if they have what it takes to be a member of a NASCAR pit crew, as well as The DuPont Technology of Speed, an exhibit that lets guests see what goes into the building of a race car. The Goodyear Heritage of Daytona gallery provides a look at the Daytona area and how it got to be the “World Center of Racing.”
There’s also an IMAX theater on site, sponsored by Coca-Cola and regularly showing NASCAR 3D: The IMAX Experience, a 45-minute film about the industry’s elite drivers and teams. Occasionally, other films are shown here as well. Just outside the theater, visitors can explore the current year’s winning car from the Daytona 500.
The ultimate thrill at the Daytona 500 Experience is no doubt the Richard Petty Driving Experience. Available at an additional cost, guests who opt to do so can ride around this famous track at speeds up to 160 mph. These ride-alongs are not available every day and must be booked in advance. For a much heftier price ($500 and up), visitors may also drive on the track themselves. This requires not only advanced reservations but also onsite safety training and pre-drive on-track instruction.
The Daytona 500 Experience is open daily except
Christmas and Thanksgiving Day. Children under 5 are free and discounted
prices are available for seniors and children age 6-12.
http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/
http://www.daytona500experience.com/
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